As scientists have warned us for years now, climate change real…it’s happening. And, it seems that documentary has been the primary art form leading the battle cry. Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (scooping up an Oscar in 2007), became the first mainstream example—turning a powerpoint presentation into a feature film that people actively discussed around the dinner table. Grant Slater’s Mammoth—a #longshort about an aging Russian scientists who is attempting to rebuild a prehistoric ecosystem to mitigate the effects of global warming—is yet another impressive addition to what is proving to be an important canon of collective cultural work. Based on fantastic reporting by Ross Andersen of the Atlantic, Mammoth is a film that feels artistically satisfying and scientifically important.

Although the film’s tagline is eye-catching (the notion of creating prehistoric parks tends to elicit visions of a certain big budget jurassic fantasy), Mammoth certain isn’t a fast-paced viewing experience. It’s style is slow and patient—a meditative reflection both about the science of climate change and the personal story of a “family business” being passed down between generations. As such, I realize this isn’t a film that is going to ignite the internet on fire or go viral. Its contemplative approach is a hurdle (especially for online viewers), but the science is interesting and the visuals and atmosphere are impressive. The film’s ambient underscore gives everything an ethereal, otherworldly vibe. It’s the perfect approach to capture the concept of two men trying to resurrect the habitat of a creature that has long been extinct.

“I’m always looking for ways to put a human face on abstract issues.”

Slater shot the film, essentially, by himself, traveling with a meager gear package to the far side of the world (Pleistocene Park is a five-hour propellor plane ride from the nearest airport).

Communicating with Short of the Week he relates:

The film’s presents a compelling, noble scientific mission: essentially what amounts to an attempt to defuse a carbon time bomb frozen in the permafrost in order to slow the effects of global warming. But, Slater also, wisely, gives the film a human angle. Both characters—the aging father and the reluctant son who has adopted the family crusade—are compelling. These men have devoted their lives to something that seems so strange, essentially rerouting the course of their family life to make a natural reserve for woolly mammoths. John Hammond, eat your heart out! While both Nikita and Sergey Zimov won’t be able to stop global warming single handedly, their devotion to the mission is inspiring. Hopefully, in the future, genetically engineered mammoths will roam the Siberian tundra once again.